Ryans purchase Rembrandt

Saturday, November 17, 2012

By John Tynan

Co Cork-based eventing couple Michael and Trish Ryan have high hopes for their latest purchase Tomgar Rembrandt, having paid the top price of €48,000 for the gelding at this week’s Goresbridge Go For Gold sale.

The six-year-old was consigned for sale by Dermot McGuire and Michael said that while it was early days, they had the Olympics in their sights with their latest acquisition.

“We bought the horse on behalf of our American owners Tom and Carol Henry, and our immediate aim is next year’s World Breeding Championships in France,” said Bandon-based Michael. “William Fox-Pitt was bidding on the phone; fortunately, we came out the winners on the day.

“The horse moves well, jumps well and we just to have to get a few competitions under our belt and see how he develops. It is a gamble, but we are confident.

“We pick and buy all the horses for Tom and Carol, who are coming over from the US next February. They have been great supporters of us, the Irish horse and Irish eventing for seven to eight years. We can’t praise them highly enough.

“Tomgar will be aged 10 when Rio comes around and we aim to get him there,” said Ryan, a member of the Irish team at the London Olympics.

Tomgar Rembrandt, a bay gelding, was bred by John Keane. He is by the thoroughbred Easy Lift, and is out of the Irish Sport Horse Kellyrose Lady, who is by the thoroughbred Daamen.

Wednesday’s auction attracted buyers came from many countries — including Canada, USA, Italy, Switzerland, Great Britain and Germany. It was held in the Amber Springs Hotel, Gorey, Co Wexford, following a showing of horses in Barnadown Equestrian Centre.

With a clearance rate of over 61%, Ryan said that, overall “the sale was very good. Plenty got sold and the prices were fair”. The average price for the horses aged 4, 5 and 6 was €18,000, while for 3-year-olds it was €10,800.

Tipperary’s Shane Breen continues to impress at the five-star show in Stuttgart, notching up a first and a second with Ominerale Courcelle, followed by a third in a 1.50m contest on Cos I Can.